Cape Town - The breakdown has been an area of great concern for the Springboks this season, and the loss of Roelof Smit to injury doesn’t make the picture any brighter.
But it’s not only Smit’s injury that is a concern for Allister Coetzee, although it is the most obvious one. The performances of the loose trio who did duty against the Barbarians is also something that will, or at least should, weigh heavily on Coetzee.
The Boks were outshone by a Baabaas side who are traditionally known for their expansive play, and not for outmuscling the opposition at the breakdowns and in the collisions. But the Boks came second - badly - as they conceded 25 turnovers.
Although loose-forward reinforcements will arrive in time for the clash against England at Twickenham on Saturday, the men who featured at Wembley will still need to up their game against Eddie’s men.
Smit, Oupa Mohoje and Nizaam Carr were the ones tasked with the back-row duties against Robbie Deans’ Baabaas, but not one of them had a laudable outing, although Smit won a few turnovers and scored one of the Boks’ five tries.
Mohoje and Carr failed to provide the Boks with significant front-foot ball and they weren’t too effective getting over the gain-line.
Smit has since returned home with a torn pectoral muscle suffered during training in London on Monday.
Now, the Boks need to find an openside flank for the remaining fixtures of the outgoing tour against England, Italy and Wales.
But, as Coetzee confirmed on Monday, the Boks have already suffered a great number of injuries in the position.
Francois Louw, Jaco Kriel and Marcell Coetzee are all recovering from injury.
Siya Kolisi - primarily a blindside flank who has previously played at openside for the Boks - is also on the injury list, while loose forwards Duane Vermeulen, Heinrich Brüssow and Schalk Burger are not available for the end-of-year tour.
Lions star Warren Whiteley is one of the reinforcements returning to the Bok camp, but whether the explosive forward will be given a starting berth in what is expected to be a huge forward battle remains to be seen.
And although the openside position is a problem, blindside doesn’t lack resources.
There is Sharks loosie Jean-Luc du Preez, Cheetahs star Uzair Cassiem, Mohoje and Carr, who can also stand in at No 7.
But who is selected will, of course, also depend largely on the opposition, which in this case is England. And, as mentioned earlier, a lot of emphasis has already been placed on the forward contest.
There are a number of possible combinations that Coetzee can make use of for Saturday's Test.
Whiteley is a linking gem and his ability with ball in hand is one of his standout traits. Carr, on the other hand, has shown that he can compete for the ball at the breakdowns.
Du Preez is a player who likes to dominate contact points and is a typical crash-ball player, but his size and that he is a traditional blindside flank who runs into defence at close quarters will probably make him an attractive option to Coetzee.
Cassiem has a huge work rate, takes the ball over the advantage line with ease and identifies space and exploits it.
Whoever gets the nod, that’s Coetzee’s pick. And here’s mine...
No 6: Nizaam Carr
The Boks are all out of fetchers, and he can compete at the breakdowns. He’ll have to up his game from last week, but he can definitely fill the openside void.
No 7: Uzair Cassiem
If he makes the cut, there will be no more worries about the Boks not getting over the gain-line. He is defensively strong, he can win lineout balls and he knows his way through gaps.
No 8: Warren Whiteley
He gains good ground and he is dangerous with ball in hand. And, very importantly, getting his team on the front foot is no issue for him.
Cape Times